From 1931, onward, Crabble Upper grounds has been the greatest place in Southeastern UK to relax and take in a match of the home Whites, or any football you might play. Set amidst the rolling hills, historic Crabble has defined a football generation in the region, playing host to countless matches. For those who understand the...

The home Whites are a decider for the Dover Athletic Football Club, as they hold a decided advantage at the Crabble stadium, located just outside Dover. It isn’t intimidation that stuns the opponents, but more-so the history of the club and pride in representing the area that so defines the home dominance. Historically, Dover...

Recent Posts

For all the athlete fans, Dover Athletic article on Nicky Deverdics move to Hartlepool is a big announcement. The squad of Hartlepool United is now bolstered by signing the talismanic midfielder Nicky Deverdics. This signing has made the return of Deverdics into the league football. After Stefan Payne’s signing for Barnsley last month; this is the second high-ranking departure from Dover. The 28 years old had a very outstanding two years spell at Crabble, where he made 18 assists and scored 14 goals. He helped the team reach the play-offs in the National League where they got defeated to Forest Green Rovers. He made around 100 appearances from Dover and was considered to be one of the best players on the side. Deverdics joined the Whites after giving a trial in 2014 summers. For most of the last season, the Geordie born midfielder captained Whites. The Crabble also put forward a new deal to make him stay, but Deverdics turned it down and decided to go back up North and signed for the league. According to Deverdics, this departure was likely to happen when Whites could not make it to the National League play-offs. He also added that he is ambitious for his career in the Football League and is very delighted to be signed for Hartlepool. He considers Hartlepool to be the best fit for him and believes that the club will help him in achieving his goals. The 28-year-old said that he has respect for Dover and his fans. Hartlepool manager, Craig Hignett believes that Deverdics to be the best player in the National League. “Every time we have seen him play he’s been excellent; he’s got a great left foot, is very creative and can make goals as well as score them,” explained Hignett. The Hartlepool manager believes that they can provide Deverdics with a platform that he needs. It is said that a few other clubs were also planning to sign the 28-year-old midfielder, but Hartlepool reached him earlier. Hignett told...

Dover Athletic managed to get into the playoffs during the normal season and were just two games away from playing at Wembley Stadium. However, a 2-1 defeat on aggregate to Forest Green see’s them stay in the National League for another season. It ended in disappointment for Dover Athletic, but they can take a lot of confidence from this campaign and try to replicate that again next season. They will know how close they came to getting into the football league, and will want to try their best to give themselves a chance again next season. How the playoffs panned out Forest Green gave themselves a huge advantage in the first leg as they won the game 1-0 away from home. This seemed to have put the tie out of reach for this Dover side, but they certainly didn’t go down without a fight. Dover Struck back in the second leg, making the tie level on aggregate, but a 54th-minute curling effort from Keanu Marsh-Brown sent `Forest Green through. A disappointing end to the season gave them possibly the hardest semifinal tie they would have got. They went six games without a win at the end of the campaign, drawing four and losing two. They will want to learn from that and take the experience into the new campaign. There is no doubt they will once again threaten up the league again next season and will be is with a massive chance of the playoffs, if not the automatic spots. It has ended in disappointment for this Dover side, but they need to get over it as soon as possible and get themselves back together ready for next...

Dover are well into their season having played 20 games. We are currently sat 3rd in the Conference Premier with 36 points. As it stands we are just four points of top spot meaning automatic promotion is still in our reach. The last two matches have not been to good for us losing in the cup to Stourbridge and then losing 1-2 at home to Eastleigh. Our next game s a big one when we travel to Forest Green for a second vs third encounter which could prove a big result come the end of the season. If we are to try to snatch that automatic stop, these are the games we need to win. However, we can not get too caught up with ourselves as we are just three points in front of the teams all the way down to 7th place. This means that we can just as easy drop out of the play off spots as we can to secure promotion this season. With the fight for the automatic promotion spot and also the play off spots still open to at least the top half of the table it is vitally important that the team do not start to drop their performances. If performances do start to drop, it could see the very good start to the season go all to waste. Last season we finished in eighth place which was a good season for us. For us to get a chance at promotion this time around would be a huge opportunity for the club and also the town of Dover to get behind the team. Manager Chris Kinnear took over the club in 2013 and now has his biggest challenge to keep the team in the playoff positions and maybe even snatch top spot come the end of the...

A lot of quality footballer’s found a home at Dover, in the Whites. Jason Bartlett, as strong a left back as you can find on the Island, was no stranger to mixing it up with opponents at the Crabble. Although mild-mannered and a complete pro, in every regard, including accompaniments and friends who may have even worked their way past him in terms of raw ability; Bartlett oversaw epic matches at the Crabble. Crowds swelling to over 4,000 looked to him with admiration as he leads the defensive unit. Mark Harrop calls the Dover grounds his best man, and often reminisces about his time in the Dover family. A solid player, Mark was a right place at the right time goal scorer with a frozen rope shot. He could also distribute the ball through the mid and advanced field. Although not quite as the living legend, Mark was as solid a player as ever wore the Whites. \Tim Dixon was a local boy who crafted an international career based on a workman’s perspective of football. Keen around the goal and a flair for the spectacular, playing at home his whole life seemed a bit haunted for Tim, as he explored options at larger clubs. Eventually, the native son returned home to please the Crabble crowds in which he sat, and goaled, as a lad. He was a true craftsman around the goal, but never shy to reign down on opponents. Russell Milton proved to be the opposite of a home town boy… a tried and trained Arsenal youth player who turned in international performance and success for the UK across the world, Russell defined a team that absolutely dominated opponents in 1990 – only to be held back by the state of the Crabble and a personal problems in the organization. Milton looks back on the tough decision to leave the club, but perhaps looks back on what Dover could have been in the Football league and up. Finally, Iain O’Connell, as tough a...

The conference premier league is a regionally defined league consisting of the 67 all-conference teams divided a premiere league and two sub-conferences, Northern and Southern. The league’s, respectively, are the level 5 and 6 or the UK football association pyramid. The Bristol Rovers sport the largest stadium, hosting up to12,500, while all teams meet a stadium standard for league participation. Clubs with well over 100 years of tradition define the aspiring football clubs, placing value on the quality of play and the development of football players at a club level. Known for its determination and opportunity at reaching the “football league” as many of the players call the premiere league, teams battle for promotion against relegation within regional conferences. The Stadiums of the Conference Premiere League The playoffs structure of the league brings the top 5 finishers in each conference and sets them against each-other in a seeded conference tourney. At the level 5, the playoff culminates at Wembley stadium, this year, where the conference champions are crowned, and promoted to the fourth level. While not home to the absolute best football on the Island, the Conference provides no shortage of quality football and leadership. The development standards for players offer chances to ascend semi and full time pro leagues and gain national recognition with tv coverage, all while collecting a paycheck for the game they love to play. Stadiums such as that which plays home to the Bristol Rovers can hold upwards of 13,000 fans, all seeking a good shout, a good time, and catching eye on the true pitch. So, you can be sure that supporting your local team will be well rewarded in this league, steeped in tradition. You can Get Detailed stats and Previews on the clubs...